Columns

Navigating the holidays with hypoparathyroidism is a lesson in conserving energy, pacing myself, and continuously reevaluating my calendar. It is the season of visits with loved ones, holiday parties, deadlines, and extra nasty communicable viruses — which is why I’m always masked. To keep pushing through the end-of-year sprint,…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Yorvipath (palopegteriparatide) injections. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I have a group of friends who are convinced I’m clairvoyant. When I reply that it’s just my anxiety, they…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with TransCon PTH, now called Yorvipath (palopegteriparatide). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and…

Earlier this year, I experienced significant shoulder pain. I blamed it on my hypoparathyroidism, assuming it was from a muscle spasm, one of my frequent symptoms. Instead, the pain turned out to be from a pinched nerve beneath my shoulder blade. While my disease was a contributing factor, it…

“What if today, we were just grateful for everything?” — Charlie Brown Life with hypoparathyroidism is a journey marked by uncertainty, where we can swiftly shift from elated to exhausted. Yet I navigate it with unwavering resilience and determination, my constant companions. It’s hard to make plans, work,…

As I cross off the days on the calendar leading up to my 41st birthday on Monday, I can’t help but think about how this year feels so different from the last several. I celebrated my 40th birthday last year in March, finally stable as part of the Yorvipath…

“And isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?” — “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette With hypoparathyroidism, every good day is a triumph over bad days. But that doesn’t mean the good days come easy. I spent a recent day with a friend in New York watching the San Francisco 49ers…

A sunny Saturday morning, and there I was again, sitting in the waiting room at my chiropractor’s clinic. As inconvenient — and expensive — as it is to add a second appointment during the week, I’m grateful he could fit me in. I’m also thankful I was able to identify…

“Independence is happiness.” — Susan B. Anthony I have learned that if I want something done correctly, I should do it myself. I am independent. I’ve been this way my whole life, and it has helped me manage my hypoparathyroidism. Hypopara casts a shadow over my life, dictating the…

My therapist had me sit with teenage Heather during my last eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy appointment. This Heather had her light brown hair in a bob, wore big glasses and plaid shorts, and was rocking back and forth, full to the brim with anxiety and an illness…